World Expressed

Turkey says it will hold talks with Kurdish militants

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:33:00 +0000

(Reuters) - Turkey opened the door to talks with Kurdish militants it brands terrorists on Monday, raising hopes of a push to end a conflict which has killed tens of thousands of people and stunted development in its mainly Kurdish southeast.
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin said talks would be held with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group, Turkey's main domestic security threat, which took up arms almost three decades ago and seeks Kurdish autonomy.
"These talks have been held as and when deemed necessary in the past, and will be held in the future," Ergin told reporters in Ankara. He did not elaborate.
Talks between the Turkish state and the PKK were unthinkable until only a few years ago and more recent contacts have proved politically fraught, with parts of the nationalist opposition strongly condemning any suggestion of negotiations.
Turkey, the United States and the European Union designate the PKK a terrorist organization. But Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is under pressure to stem the violence, which has included bomb attacks in major cities such as well as clashes with the military in the mountainous southeast.
Ergin's comments followed the end of a 68-day hunger strike by hundreds of PKK militants in prisons across Turkey on Sunday, after an appeal from their jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan.
Imprisoned on Imrali island in the Marmara Sea south of Istanbul since his capture in 1999, Ocalan has significant support among Kurds but is widely reviled by Turks who hold him responsible for the violence.
Ocalan's call from Imrali came after he held a couple of months of talks with Turkish officials, according to Nihat Ali Ozcan, security analyst at the TEPAV think-tank in Ankara, adding that the talks could lead to a PKK ceasefire.
Erdogan's room for manoeuvre will be limited by concern about the growing power of a PKK-linked party in Syria and 2014 elections when he hopes to take over a new executive presidency. Any concessions to the PKK could undermine his popularity.
"Erdogan needs two or three years of silence. Talks can continue until then and during that time the PKK will try and secure more concessions," Ozcan said.
Recordings leaked last year showed senior intelligence officials had also held secret meetings with the PKK in Oslo.
"We are all for talking to Ocalan and any other parties so long as it produces clear and concrete outcomes," Faruk Logoglu, vice chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), told Reuters.
"But the record of this government is such that they do not really radiate confidence that they are conducting these talks in a clear, results-orientated way without leading to unacceptable demands from the PKK," he said.
NEXT STEP?
Idris Baluken, a senior member of the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), which had supported the hunger strikers, said the end of the action had created an opportunity for the government but that it would have to negotiate with Ocalan if it wanted to end the conflict.
However, there was no evidence that any specific government initiative was imminent. The possibility of PKK talks has been raised by Ergin and other government officials in the past, most recently by Erdogan himself in September.
The hunger strike had been a thorn in the side of Erdogan's government, already dealing with the spillover of violence from neighboring Syria and increasingly concerned about the prospect of deaths among the hunger strikers which could exacerbate an upsurge in PKK violence.
Ankara has linked the renewed hostilities to the conflict in Syria and accused President Bashar al-Assad of arming the PKK.
Public anger at the rapidly rising death toll is also likely to limit the government's ability to reach a settlement.
More than 40,000 people have been killed in 28 years of fighting between Turkey and the group and there is little sign of violence subsiding. PKK fighters killed five Turkish soldiers in clashes in Hakkari province on Sunday.
Ocalan reportedly told his brother Mehmet when they met on Saturday in Imrali that the hunger strike had achieved its aim, although there was little evidence that the government had accepted the protesters' demands.
As well as an end to Ocalan's isolation and access to lawyers, they had demanded the use of the Kurdish language in education and other institutions.
Erdogan's government has boosted cultural and language rights for Kurds, who make up around 20 percent of Turkey's 75-million strong population, since taking power a decade ago.
However, Kurdish politicians are seeking greater political reform, including steps towards autonomy for the mainly Kurdish southeast, which borders Syria, Iran and Iraq.
Addressing one of the demands, the government has sent to parliament a bill allowing defendants to use Kurdish in court.
But political analyst Emre Uslu said the goals of the PKK and government were irreconcilable.
"The PKK wants to bring peace without laying down its arms. It wants to return to the cities as the guardian of the Kurds," he wrote in Today's Zaman newspaper.
"The peace that the Turkish state talks about is for the PKK to lay down its arms and surrender."
(Additional reporting by Nick Tattersall; Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Nick Tattersall and Jon Hemming)
source http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/us-turkey-kurds-talks-idUSBRE8AI0J620121119
By Pinar Aydinli

Turkey Labels Israel a 'Terrorist State'

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:26:00 +0000

ISTANBUL—Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of being a "terrorist state" on Monday and criticized world powers for supporting the weeklong bombardment of Gaza that has killed more some 115 people, signaling that the three-year-old rift between the countries is deepening. Speaking in Istanbul shortly after returning from Cairo, where he held emergency talks on Gaza with Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, Mr. Erdogan railed against what he called Western powers' failure to take concerted action to stop bloodshed in Syria. But harsher words were aimed at one-time ally Israel.

Enlarge Image

European Pressphoto Agency

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seen here in Cairo on Sunday.

"Those who speak of Muslims and terror side by side are turning a blind eye when Muslims are massacred en masse," he told a gathering of the Eurasian Islamic Council. "Those who turn a blind eye to discrimination toward Muslims in their own countries, are also closing their eyes to the savage massacre of innocent children in Gaza. … Therefore, I say Israel is a terrorist state."

The comments mark a recent low in relations between Turkey and Israel, which have been strained since Israel's 2008 offensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Conflict in Gaza Strip, Israel

View Slideshow

Suhaib Salem /Reuters

Palestinians evacuated a wounded man after an Israeli airstrike targeted a building that houses international-media offices in Gaza City Monday.

Doctors warn that an escalation in the fighting between Israel and Hamas could overwhelm Gaza's hospitals. WSJ's Matt Bradley reports.

Mr. Erdogan's latest comments appear to pour cold water on the prospect of a thaw in relations between Washington's two top allies in the region. Recent reports in the Turkish media suggested that the two sides were making headway on repairing ties, although these reports were denied by Turkey's cabinet ministers.

Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, stepped up its diplomatic involvement in the Gaza conflict over the weekend, when Mr. Erdogan visited Cairo to help Egypt's Mr. Morsi push negotiations for a cease-fire. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu plans to travel to Gaza on Tuesday with a group of foreign ministers from the Arab League, Turkey's state news agency Anadolu reported on Sunday.

In a veiled criticism of U.S. President Barack Obama—who on Sunday reiterated his support for Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian rocket fire—Mr. Erdogan said it was unfair to cite Israel's right to defend itself to justify Israeli attacks, arguing that Israel is the aggressor.

On Sunday, President Obama reiterated his support for Israel's right to defend itself against Palestinian rocket fire.

Israel says its military action against Gaza is a response to Hamas-fired rockets, which in recent days have been fired as far as Tel Aviv. One of these was struck down by Israel's Iron Dome defense system, with parts falling into the city and setting a car ablaze, in the first such damage on Israel's largest metropolitan area since the 1991 Gulf War.

Turkey's prime minister also criticized the United Nations, which called on Israel and Hamas to work with Egypt to achieve a cease-fire in the conflict. "I'm asked how much I trust the U.N. I don't trust it," Mr. Erdogan said, urging once again to reform the world body to make the Security Council more inclusive and effective in stopping bloodshed world-wide.

source —Laurence Norman in Brussels contributed to this article.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323353204578128880612421650.html

These kids will go far! Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton's debut duet overshadows The Voice's last ten hopefuls

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:10:00 +0000

The remaining ten contestants on The Voice belted our some impressive performances on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's elimination but the show was stolen in the opening moments when Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton premiered their new single.

The odd couple, who probably would never have collaborated if it weren't for the NBC talent show, sang the wonderful Just A Fool, and it near brought the house down.

Christina, who has worn some odd outfits over the course of the series, looked lovely in black with her hair back to blonde save for a pink tinged fringe.

Scroll down to see Blake and Christina sing...

Just a Fool: The Voice has yet to find its winner but it has brought country singer Blake Shelton and pop princess Christina Aguilera together on a duet

She started singing against a black backdrop and amongst the assembled fans before Blake appeared and they came together.

But they weren't the only stars taking centre stage.

With contestants whittled down to the final ten each judge brought in a musical expert to help coach their team through the final rounds.

But it was Cee Lo Green’s group that grew star struck when Jennifer Hudson stepped out backstage.

'Oh my god. What is this?' Exclaimed contestant Cody Belew when he saw the Oscar winning actress and singer in the studio.

A class act: Christina looked lovely tonight and stole the show with her new single, and a bit of help from her friend

Quite a partner: Blake relished his duet with Christina on what's sure to be a massive hit

Well done, partner! The pair congratulate each other after the fab performance

'I have brought in my very good friend Jennifer Hudson, I think she has one of the best voices ever,' said Forget You singer Cee Lo, 38.

'This competition is one of the best ways to prepare them for the industry so I hope they learn from it,' said the former American Idol winner who was dressed demurely in dark trousers and a long-sleeved top.

After the Smash star offered some technical advice Cee Lo’s team appeared to come out tops - with all three of his contestants gaining ecstatic praise from the judges.

Wearing an asymmetrical leather ensemble Cody Belew went for all out rock-and-roll for Beyonce’s hit Crazy In Love.

Inspired: Cody Belew had a helping hand from the talented Jennifer Hudson

Bringing out the big guns: Cee Lo aced the mentor game on Monday night

Been there, done that: Hudson got her big break on American Idol so she knows the ropes like nobody else

'Cody you’re awesome, you’re so cocky. You even make me look humble,' said Maroon 5 frontman and judge Adam Levine.

Cee Lo’s second contestant the heavily bearded Nicholas David also wowed the judges - with a soulful performance of Lean On Me by Bill Withers.

'It’s like watching a legend, a musical legend,' said Country star Blake Shelton, 36, who is married to Miranda Lambert, 29.

'It was like warm chicken soup, so soothing for my soul,' said Christina Aguilera, 31.

Meanwhile Cee Lo was almost moved to tears by his contestant’s show: “I’m listening to the voice of a generation,” he said, wiping his eyes.

Other strong performances were given by Aguilera’s protégée Sylvia Yacoub and the youngest contestant, 17-year-old New Yorker Melanie Martinez.

'Like warm chicken soup': Nicholas David wowed the judges with his unique charm on Lean On Me

Favourite: Cassadee Pope ensured their wasn't a dry eye in the house when she sang Over You, the song Blake Shelton penned about losing his brother in a car accident that is sung by his wife Miranda Lambert

'Proud father': That's how Christina described Blake as she watched him watching Cassadee

Egyptian native Sylvia Yacoub sang Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys. Cee Lo called it: 'A really solid performance,' while Adam Levine complimented: 'That blew me away.'

'Your pipes were on fire, you just made me so proud,' said the Genie in a Bottle singer to her student.

Flaunting her usual two-tone hair Melanie Martinez sang Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.

'That’s one of the coolest things that has happened this season,' said Cee Lo.

Country singer Blake Shelton gave a standing ovation for Terry McDermott’s rendition of Summer of 69 and seemed to go misty eyed for Cassadee Pope’s song, Over You, unsurprisingly as he wrote it about his brother's death in a car accident. His wife Miranda Lambert sings the tune.

A Seven Nation Army couldn't hold her back: Melanie Martinez slowed down The White Stripes classic to great effect

Holding in there: Terry McDermott is hoping to be still standing at the end of tomorrow night's show

Proud: Christina was chuffed to bits with Sylvia Yacoub's turn

I get angry every time I see you because you should be on my team and Blake stole you,' Adam said to McDermott .

Adam’s contestant Bryan Keith sang New York State of Mind, by Billy Joel, which earned him some kudos from the male judges.

'You have to have a pair to sing that song,' said Cee Lo.

'You did it well. I’m a fan.'

Amanda Brown sang a very emotional performance of Stars by Grace Potter which prompted Cee Lo to joke: “If you win this entire thing I’ll still feel like I discovered you first.'

Viewers will now vote on which contestants will be voted out.

source Daily Mail Reporter

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2235604/Christina-Aguilera-Blake-Sheltons-debut-duet-overshadows-The-Voices-hopefuls.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

A brilliant beginning for Colin Kaepernick’s first NFL start

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:59:00 +0000

A young quarterback making his first NFL start is taking on the NFL’s best defense on Monday Night Football. Obviously, it’s a mismatch.
And by that I mean the Bears’ defense is no match for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick got off to a brilliant start on Monday night against the Bears, showing a strong arm, the patience to read through his progression, and perfect touch on his passes.
Kaepernick completed seven of his first eight passes, for 114 yards, as the 49ers jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Kaepernick’s 57-yard pass to Kyle Williams was an absolutely beautiful deep ball — one of the finest passes you’ll ever see from any quarterback, let alone a quarterback who has never started an NFL game before.
There’s still a lot of football left to be played, but in the early going Kaepernick is absolutely shredding the Bears’ defense. Chicago better answer in a hurry.

source Michael David Smith
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/19/a-brilliant-beginning-for-colin-kaepernicks-first-nfl-start/

Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick? 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh wouldn't say after win over Bears

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:46:00 +0000

As if Alex Smith wasn't already wishing he had been cleared to start Monday night, now he's got to deal with shaky job status as the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers thanks to Colin Kaepernick.

Filling in for Smith, who suffered a concussion last week, Kaepernick sent a clear message during the 49ers' 32-7 trouncing of the Bears that he's capable of leading the team.

In just his first career start, Kaepernick was 16 of 23 for 246 yards and two touchdowns, looking comfortable throughout the night while making some serious throws.

RECAP: Kaepernick, 49ers rout Bears

All of which caught the attention of 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.

"Thought Colin did an outstanding job," Harbaugh said during his postgame news conference. "Thought he did a great job. Poise in the pocket, throwing with accuracy, did a nice job running the game plan. Everything he did was just exemplary."

The question on the mind of every 49ers fan afterward: Is Kaepernick the new starting quarterback?

"We'll see," Harbaugh said. "Usually tend to go with the guy who's got the hot hand, and we've got two quarterbacks that have got a hot hand."

And with that, ladies and gentlemen, we've got a QB controversy in San Francisco.

Harbaugh clearly has been the biggest believer in Smith, so for him not to get an immediate seal of approval from Harbaugh is a bit stunning. At the same time, though, how could Harbaugh ignore what happened Monday night? And it's not like Kaepernick picked apart a lowly defense. It was the Bears -- ranked fifth overall and the most opportunistic unit in the NFL.

Speaking bigger picture, let's not forget Harbaugh and Co. traded up in the second round last year to draft Kaepernick because they felt good about his potential.

Yeah, this won't be easy to figure out. Or maybe it will. Hey, look, the fog is rolling in on the Golden Gate Bridge!

source Simon Samano, USA TODAY Sports

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/11/20/49ers-qb-controversy-colin-kaepernick-alex-smith/1716261/

American Music Awards 2012: The Complete Winners List

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:13:00 +0000

Justin Bieber, Nicki MInaj and Linkin Park were among the artists awarded statues at the 40th annual music awards ceremony, broadcast live from L.A.'s Nokia Theatre.

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Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Linkin Park were among the winners at the 40th annual American Music Awards on Sunday, broadcast live on ABC from Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre.

PHOTOS: AMAs Red Carpet Arrivals

The show featured a star-studded lineup of presenters and performers, including No Doubt, Christina Aguilera, Bieber, Ke$ha, Linkin Park and Carrie Underwood. The show also included a tribute to the late Dick Clark from Stevie Wonder.

For the first time in AMAs history, 2012 marked the introduction of a new EDM category. David Guetta beat out Calvin Harris and Skrillex to bring home the prize.

Below, find a complete list of winners.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

JUSTIN BIEBER
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
CARLY RAE JEPSEN
One Direction

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK

JUSTIN BIEBER
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - POP/ROCK

Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
KATY PERRY
Rihanna

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP - POP/ROCK

fun.
MAROON 5
One Direction
The Wanted

FAVORITE ALBUM - POP/ROCK

JUSTIN BIEBER, "Believe"
Maroon 5, "Overexposed"
Nicki Minaj, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"
One Direction, "Up All Night"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - COUNTRY

Jason Aldean
LUKE BRYAN
Eric Church

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - COUNTRY

Miranda Lambert
TAYLOR SWIFT
Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP - COUNTRY

Zac Brown Band
LADY ANTEBELLUM
Rascal Flatts

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY

Luke Bryan, "Tailgates & Tanlines"
Lionel Richie, "Tuskegee"
CARRIE UNDERWOOD, "BLOWN AWAY"

FAVORITE ARTIST - RAP/HIP-HOP

Drake
NICKI MINAJ
Tyga

FAVORITE ALBUM - RAP/HIP-HOP

J. Cole, "Cole World: The Sideline Story"
Drake, "Take Care"
NICKI MINAJ, "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded"

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B

Chris Brown
Trey Songz
USHER

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST - SOUL/R&B

BEYONCE
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM - SOUL/R&B

Chris Brown, "Fortune"
RIHANNA, "TALK THAT TALK"
Usher, "Looking 4 Myself"

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK

The Black Keys
Gotye
LINKIN PARK

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY

ADELE
Kelly Clarkson
Train

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN

Don Omar
Pitbull
SHAKIRA

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
TOBYMAC

FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)

DAVID GUETTA
Calvin Harris
Skrillex

source http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/american-music-awards-2012-complete-391940

Nominees for The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards Have Been Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 07:04:00 +0000

Nominees for The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards Have Been Announced

--> Finally the list of nominees has been announced for The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards. Below you can get all of the details on who you'll be voting for to win big on SUNDAY NOV 18 8|7c on ABC.

Check out the full press release below!

“THE 40th ANNIVERSARY AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS®”
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Nicki Minaj and Rihanna Individually Lead 2012 Nominations;
Christina Aguilera Confirmed to Perform;
New Electronic Dance Music Category Created;
Winners Determined by Online Voting at amavote.com

Recording artist Christina Aguilera revealed the “The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards®” (“AMAs”) nominations this morning from the J.W. Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE (see full list of nominees below). It was also announced that Christina Aguilera will be performing on this year’s show which will be broadcast live from the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT) on ABC. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are now on sale (please visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 1-877-234-8425.).

For the fourth consecutive year, the live online pre-show “Coca-Cola Red Carpet LIVE! @ The 2012 AMAs” will stream live for fans worldwide starting at 5:00 p.m., ET / 2:00 p.m., PT and will be hosted by Lance Bass, Kimberly Cole, Brad Goreski and Tristan Wilds, among other hosts to be announced -- including a NOKIA correspondent. Viewers will be able to watch the live show on ABC.com, AMAs365.com, Cokemusic.com, Livestream, Ustream, YouTube and through AP Live Entertainment. Livestream and Ustream-powered video players will be made available to media partners, as well as for the websites and Facebook Pages of participating talent.

Nicki Minaj and Rihanna both lead this year with 4 nominations individually, while Drake, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, One Direction and Usher follow with 3 nominations each and Carrie Underwood, Chris Brown, fun., Gotye, J.Cole, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan and Pitbull collected 2 nominations. This year’s 2012 Artist of the Year nominees are Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5, Katy Perry and Rihanna. This year also marks the creation of the new Electronic Dance Music Category. Nominees include David Guetta, Calvin Harris and Skrillex.

For the sixth year, winners will be determined by online voting that starts today. Fans can vote at the Coca-Cola AMA voting website, amavote.com, as well as AMA.abc.com. Artists will be honored in the categories of Pop/Rock, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, Soul/R&B, Alternative, Adult Contemporary, Latin, Contemporary Inspirational and -- for the first year ever -- Electronic Dance Music. Fans can go to the official homepage of “The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards,” ama.abc.com, to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information and more.

“The 40th Anniversary American Music Awards” are produced by dick clark productions, inc. (DCP) Allen Shapiro and Orly Adelson will executive produce the show. Larry Klein will produce. The program will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format with 5.1 channel surround sound. A TV parental guideline will be assigned closer to the airdate.

Shapiro, Adelson, and Klein jointly stated: “The 40th American Music Awards will once again represent the epitome of pop culture, featuring today’s biggest stars and music icons all on one stage.”

Fans can go to ama.abc.com, AMAs365.com, follow the AMAs on Twitter @theamas, and like the AMAs on Facebook at facebook.com/amas to find performer and presenter announcements, artist information, Memes, Gifs and more. Starting tomorrow, fans will also be able to watch “AMAs On Demand,” a weekly web series hosted by Lance Bass, Kimberly Cole and Megan Turney. The web series will be published weekly to YouTube (youtube.com/awardsshownetwork), ABC.com and other streaming partners and will cover all things “AMA,” including breaking news, artist spotlights, retrospectives on fashion, acceptance speeches, red carpet and backstage interviews.

2012 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES:

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Justin Bieber
Drake
Maroon 5
Katy Perry
Rihanna

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

J. Cole
fun.
Gotye
Carly Rae Jepsen
One Direction

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

Justin Bieber
Flo Rida
Pitbull
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK

Kelly Clarkson
Nicki Minaj
Katy Perry
Rihanna

FAVORITE BAND, DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK

fun.
Maroon 5
One Direction
The Wanted

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK

Justin Bieber /Believe
Maroon 5/Overexposed
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded
One Direction/Up All Night

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – COUNTRY

Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

FAVORITE BAND, DUO or GROUP - COUNTRY

Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts

FAVORITE ALBUM - COUNTRY

Luke Bryan/Tailgates & Tanlines
Lionel Richie/Tuskegee
Carrie Underwood/Blown Away

FAVORITE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP

Drake
Nicki Minaj
Tyga

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP

J. Cole/Cole World: The Sideline Story
Drake/Take Care
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B

Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B

Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Rihanna

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B

Chris Brown/Fortune
Rihanna/Talk That Talk
Usher/Looking 4 Myself

FAVORITE ARTIST - ALTERNATIVE ROCK

The Black Keys
Gotye
Linkin Park

FAVORITE ARTIST - ADULT CONTEMPORARY

Adele
Kelly Clarkson
Train

FAVORITE ARTIST - LATIN

Don Omar
Pitbull
Shakira

FAVORITE ARTIST - CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL

Jeremy Camp
Newsboys
tobyMac

FAVORITE ARTIST - ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)

David Guetta
Calvin Harris
Skrillex

About the VotingAmerican Music Awards® nominees are selected from both BigChampagne’s Ultimate Chart and Mediabase. The Ultimate Chart is a ranked list of the most popular artists and songs based on a weighted combination of music sales, radio and TV broadcast, internet streaming and video viewing, and incorporating additional online metrics, including activity on social networks. Mediabase monitors more than 1,800 radio stations in 180 U.S. and Canadian markets, 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week and provides vital airplay and programming information to more than 1,700 affiliate radio stations and every major broadcast group. Winners are chosen by public vote online.

About dick clark productions, inc.Founded in 1957, dick clark productions, inc. (dcp) is a leading independent producer of television programming. dcp produces perennial hits such as the “American Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Academy of Country Music Awards,” and “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.” dcp also produces popular weekly television programming, including “So You Think You Can Dance,” and owns and maintains one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment libraries, which includes more than 30 years of “American Bandstand” footage. For additional information about dcp, please visit www.dickclarkproductions.com

About the American Music AwardsIn 1973 Dick Clark created the American Music Awards to pay tribute to popular musicians from various genres of music and to put audiences in touch with the latest phenomena in American music. Since its founding, the AMAs have honored and showcased the talents of some of the biggest names in the music industry. For press credential requests, please go to http://pmkbnc.wufoo.com/forms/2012-american-music-awards-media-application/. Archived footage and photography are available upon request.

By Steve Dove

source http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/blogs/show-news/2012-ama-nominees-list

Nintendo hopes to sell 5.5 million Wii U consoles by March 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:57:00 +0000

Nintendo hopes to sell 5.5 million Wii U consoles by March 2013

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Nintendo estimates Wii U sales of 5.5 million by March 2013, which is very close to the sales of the original Wii console.

Nintendo just released some financial results with a tweaked forecast on sales and profits. The company slashed profit forecasts by 70% due to slow sales of the 3DS in North America, and gave an estimate on how many Wii U console they expect to sell.
Nintendo revealed that the company expects Wii U sales to hit 5.5 million by March 2013, when the current fiscal year runs out. Back in July, Nintendo said they expect to sell 8 million consoles by March 2013, which include both Wii and Wii U units.
At the same time, some analysts estimated that the company would only sell about 4 million Wii U consoles during that time frame. Nintendo has now gone on the record and set a target number: 5.5 million.
This number is actually pretty close to the original Wii, which sold 5.8 million units during the same period in 2007. Wii sales are now at 97 million, and will likely pass 100 million by March 2013.
By Kyo Sasaki
Source (Nintendo financial PDF)
source http://wiiudaily.com/2012/10/nintendo-to-sell-5-5-million-wii-u-consoles-by-march-2013/

Nintendo Wii U review

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:47:00 +0000

Nintendo Wii U review

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Nintendo's new console is an anomaly in the game console ecosystem, but not for Nintendo. The company that -- in just the last decade -- popularized stylus-powered gaming, microphone-powered gaming and motion-based gaming, is once again pushing game control inputs forward. And just like its previous consoles, lessons learned from past hardware build the foundation of its latest effort: the Wii U and its bizarre-looking, but conventionally named, "GamePad."

The Wii U console itself, for instance, looks almost exactly like the original Wii. It's longer (10.6 inches vs. 8.5 inches for the Wii), a bit rounder on the edges, and there's an HDMI port out back, but overall it's quite similar to its squatter predecessor. It's enough that you'd get the two confused if they were sitting in the same entertainment center. Naturally, the beefed-up internals and Wii backwards compatibility mean you'll likely be replacing the ol' virtual tennis machine should you choose to pick one up.

Of course, the GamePad is the real star of the show here, bolstered by Nintendo's ambitious "TVii" experiment. Everyone's favorite Italian plumber looks super in HD, no doubt, but how software employs the multifaceted touchscreen tablet / traditional game controller hybrid is what really matters. So, how does the Wii U fare? Find out below.

Note: Nintendo delayed TVii into December, and the majority of promised functionality was not made available to reviewers ahead of the console's November 18th release date (including crucial components like online infrastructure, the Miiverse social network, Nintendo Network, Nintendo TVii, and Wii backwards compatibility). As such, we're updating our review as we use those features, post-launch.

Nintendo Wii U review

Hardware: The Console

The Wii U is a relatively quiet little box that slips easily into home media centers. Sure, there's a stand (at least in the deluxe set), but we opted to lay it on its side -- it takes up less space, and all the writing is geared toward it laying horizontally. How could we disobey the font? It'll take up yet another HDMI spot on your HDTV (a cable is thankfully included in the Wii U box), though component is also an option (sold separately). Think of the ports on the back of the Wii U box as identical to what you had on your original Wii, save for some very small tweaks. For one, the AC power port is slightly altered to account for the Wii U's new, larger adapter. Otherwise, the only difference is the addition of an HDMI port on account of the console's beefed up internals: an IBM Power-based multi-core processor and an AMD Radeon custom high-def GPU. You can directly plug in that old Wii sensor bar, should you choose to eschew the brand new one you'll get in the box.

There are two flavors of storage as well, with the $300 model getting just 8GB of internal flash memory while the $350 model gets 32GB. Not that any of that matters terribly, as both flash and full-on external HDDs are supported. The four USB ports situated around the long black rectangle should provide more than enough support. Should they not be enough, an SD slot sits up front below the optical disc tray, tucked behind a slidable wall of shiny plastic with two of the aforementioned USB ports. Like the GamePad it supports, the Wii U console is glossy, fingerprint-loving plastic. The dust and cat hair in our test apartment love the exterior of the Wii U. We do not. Unless you live in a dust-less vacuum, there's no way your Wii U console won't exist in a state of perpetual shabbiness. We've had our black deluxe set for a week and it looks as though it's been sitting in an ancient tomb. Finish aside, it's a quiet, sleek black rectangle that takes up little of our precious entertainment center space -- you'll find no complaints here.

Nintendo Wii U vs. Nintendo Wii ... fight!

Hardware: The GamePad

The Wii U's touch-based GamePad controller has its roots in the Nintendo DS, as evidenced by the GamePad's stylus concept, the aging resistive touchscreen (albeit larger at 6.2 inches, with an 854×480 resolution in a 16:9 ratio), and the microphone residing along the bottom. A player-facing camera -- no doubt borrowed from the DSi -- sits parallel to the mic, just above that enormous touchscreen. Two Nintendo Wii Nunchuk-esque convex, clickable analog sticks punctuate the left and right sides of the GamePad, and the plus and minus buttons (replacing start / select) from the Wiimote sit along the lower right. The SNES' hallmark four-button layout and d-pad line up on either side of the touchscreen just below the analog sticks. This sure is a Nintendo device, eh? Or is it every Nintendo device, all at once?

Of course, the GamePad is more than an homage to Nintendo's previous hardware, and there's plenty new to gawk at -- a volume slider controls how loud the GamePad's speakers are, a haloed Home button sits along the bottom (allowing for quick access to the GamePad's settings and the console's main menu) and a red battery light indicates when you'll need a recharge (solid to warn, blinking when death is imminent).

Nintendo Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller vs. Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 controllers

Digital triggers await your pointer fingers on each side around back, with a clickable shoulder button above each (similar to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers). A deep ridge allows you to comfortably hold the hefty, 1.1-pound controller for long periods -- not that you'll be using it for much longer than three hours if you don't plug it in. We pulled just under five hours out of it with brightness turned all the way down, the sound off and no rumble, but averaged around 3.5 hours in general use. There's also a power-saving mode which auto-adjusts the screen's brightness based on whatever it's displaying, which seemed to do little in conserving battery life; turning down the sound and keeping brightness at the lowest setting is the best way to extend run time beyond the average, we found. Should you choose to give yourself a break and fully recharge the controller, it'll need around 2.5 hours to re-up.

We pulled just under five hours out of it with brightness turned all the way down, the sound off and no rumble, but averaged around 3.5 hours in general use.

As for new functionality, there's a spot for NFC connectivity, but but we can't test it as no software supports it yet (not even Activision megahit series Skylanders). Of course, it's not hard to imagine, say, a Pokémon tie-in down the line, or something else similarly terrifying to parents' wallets. Perhaps the most novel non-gaming function of the tablet-esque controller is its IR-based universal remote control ability -- the GamePad can be used to control your HDTV (well, "most" HDTVs) in some basic, but very important, ways. Rather than futzing with several remote controls to turn on your television and game console, the Wii U's built-in universal remote functionality -- which functions whether or not the Wii U itself is powered on -- streamlines everything down to just the game controller. Of course, this is no replacement for your Harmony One; in our experience, it was primarily used for powering on the Wii U, the television, and switching to the appropriate input / changing volume / etc., and thankfully had little to no impact on battery.

This functionality alone made a huge impact on how we approached the console as part of the entertainment center. It's also changed our game playing habits quite a bit, as many games on the GamePad screen are mirror images of the TV -- we found ourselves indulging ADD and flipping to the evening news while trouncing goombas. It also helps the family dynamic of battling for control of one television. Little Sally can keep playing New Super Mario Bros. U while Dad watches Sunday football (or other such situations).

That won't work with all software, of course, such as featured launch title Nintendo Land -- a carnival-themed collection of 12 games spotlighting major Nintendo franchises, from Animal Crossing to Zelda. It employs all of the GamePad's gimmicks across its single and multiplayer games. That includes asymmetrical gameplay, wherein what you see on the GamePad isn't what you see on your television. As such, much-vaunted features like off-screen play work only on a case-by-case basis. (We were unable to test this feature with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant or any other non-game software ahead of launch, as none were available.)

Sadly, overall, the GamePad controller gives off a relatively low-grade impression; it looks and feels like a toy. The four main buttons resemble aspirin pills and aren't of the polish we expect from modern game consoles; glossy plus / minus buttons accentuate this tragedy even further. Shallow, squishy shoulder buttons akin to those on Sony's DualShock 3 compare poorly to those found on the current Xbox 360 controller as well as competent third-party equivalents (the Razer Onza, for instance). And the convex analog sticks had our thumbs easily slipping during long Mario sessions. The glossy, handprint-friendly, dust-magnet finish on the GamePad isn't helping its looks, either (we prefer the matte finish on the GamePad's rear). It's not all bad -- the d-pad is as solid as ever, and the clicky digital triggers work beautifully (as long as you're not playing an FPS or a racing game, that is). The GamePad's comfy, too, despite its weight and size. If only it'd go further from its home base console than the 26 feet Nintendo's promising.

Yes, we tried bringing the Wii U GamePad everywhere, but Nintendo's (admittedly conservative) estimation is pretty spot-on -- the streamed video that the Wii U pushes to its GamePad wouldn't go very far at all without running into hiccups or cutting out altogether. That isn't to say we encountered issues within that estimated distance -- in fact, streaming worked flawlessly -- but don't expect to sneak in late night gaming from your bedroom while the Wii U sits quietly across the house. Though folks in more rural areas may fare better, our NY-based test apartment with three wireless devices (aside from the Wii U) wouldn't allow anything beyond 20 feet or so. Within that range, though, the Wii U magically streams hiccup-free gaming to both the GamePad's screen and an HDTV -- no small feat, and one that opens up a Pandora's box of ideas for both game developers and media providers.

Hardware: The Pro Controller

The Pro Controller is a Nintendo-crafted hybrid of the PlayStation 3's DualShock and the Xbox 360's controller. It's got a good heft, but isn't too heavy, and sadly features the same glossy plastic and cheap buttons we've already complained about. Apparently Nintendo wants our consoles and their accessories constantly looking dirty? It rumbles as you'd expect and functions admirably in time-sensitive situations (such as Ninja Gaiden 3). Also expected: its battery lasts much, much longer than the GamePad, with ours holding charge anywhere from six to 10 hours before needing a plug in. Unlike the GamePad, which requires an wall charge directly, you can simply plug in the controller into the console via USB and continue playing while charging.

Hardware: The Charging Cradle

Surprisingly, there's a lot to be said for the convenience of the Wii U's GamePad charging cradle. Rather than fussing with wires that connect to an otherwise wireless console, you simply place the GamePad in a comfy dock, no connection required (a la the 3DS charging cradle). It comes with its own AC adapter and doesn't actually require a physical plug into the GamePad -- the controller charges via touch points rather than a plug (again, in around 2.5 hours). If Nintendo Land's discounted price and the larger internal storage haven't already sold potential buyers on the deluxe Wii U version, the cradle (otherwise sold separately for $20) absolutely should. It's a small convenience, but quite a nice one.

Software

We can't share the same positivity about the mostly unchanged UI -- it's a simplified version of the user interface we got to know in the original Wii. Movable, rounded square tiles (five across, three down) represent the entire experience, aside from the ability to swap between your user Mii walking around a (currently empty) plaza and the tiles. Nintendo plans to populate this plaza with your online friends (and news from its SpotPass feature), but we've been unable to use this feature ahead of launch -- as of now, it's a pretty, empty room with a very lonely Mii. Logging in with your Mii is a snap, and you can set a particular one to default login on boot. Logging out and switching users is as simple as tapping the user icon in the upper left corner of the UI and selecting another user -- simple, intuitive and quick.

Currently, pre-launch update, what little that is available in terms of non-game software loads surprisingly slowly for a brand-new console. Opening the Mii Maker, the System Settings, Daily Log or the Parental Controls requires a roughly 15-second wait while the application loads (yes, we timed it), and backing out takes about as long. When you do enter any of the applications, there's only so much to do -- the Mii Maker functions much like that of its 3DS equivalent, matching up a camera scan of your face with an approximation or allowing you to import one from other Nintendo consoles (3DS included). You can also create your own from scratch, should you be so inclined.

The Daily Log shows a breakdown of your daily actions on the Wii U, as well as per game, so you can find out exactly how much of your life you've spent trying to find various incarnations of the Triforce. Parental Controls mostly allow for enabling or disabling the Wii U's various features -- accessing non-game entertainment, or Miiverse, or the eShop -- as well as an ESRB-based blocking system for games. System Settings is where you'll go for data management (such as transferring your old Wii data over), but also where you'll go to tweak the settings you arranged in initial setup (wireless networks, date/time, etc. -- basic system level stuff). Most importantly, it's where you can recalibrate your GamePad and sensor bar should there ever be an issue.

Games

With 23 games to choose from this weekend and even more in the "launch window" (ending March 31, 2013), the Wii U's arriving at retail with a huge presence. Of course, only a small handful of those 23 are worth plunking down your $60 for -- they're still launch titles, after all -- and we've got a few suggestions.

New Super Mario Bros. U

Obvious? Yes. Delightful? Also yes. New Super Mario Bros. U is Mario's first big HD outing, and he's looking incredible, as are Bowser's airships and Yoshi's big, goofy face. Beyond being a great showpiece for your new console, NSMBU is an excellent Mario game. It's nowhere near as innovative as series standouts like Super Mario World (an SNES launch title) or even Super Mario 64 (an N64 launch title), but it's a heck of a lot better than recent NSMB entries (we're looking at you, New Super Mario Bros. 2 on 3DS).

Nintendo Land

If you're wondering what the Wii Sports of Wii U is, Nintendo Land is it: the game serves as a glorious demonstration of the unique controller's many, many functions, and offers a preview of what other creative ideas will assuredly spring up over the next several years. More importantly, Nintendo Land helps prove that the GamePad's more than just a mixed bag of legacy functionality and emerging tablet fads -- the tilt sensor shines in Captain Falcon's Twister Race, and the whole "second screen" idea works beautifully in Luigi's Ghost Mansion. It's easy to forget how cheap the overall build of the GamePad feels when you're enjoying totally new gaming experiences with it. Nintendo Land's demonstrative abilities are a necessity when buying the new console -- the game alone sells the deluxe set, as you'd pay more for the game and regular bundle separately.

ZombiU

Ubisoft Montpellier's long-in-development Wii U zombie shooter matured considerably since its initial unveiling as "Killer Freaks From Outer Space." The freaks are now the undead hordes of London, post-zombie apocalypse, and you're an unwitting survivor struggling to hang on. Rather than gleefully taking to heavy weaponry, you'll be employing survival skills more than anything else -- weapons (and ammunition) are at a minimum, and the GamePad's second screen is employed smartly as a map / backpack (as well as lots of other neat tricks that you should really just see for yourself). ZombiU also serves as a showcase of the system's non-cartoon HD ability (some up-close textures reminded us this is still a launch game, sadly). Be warned that it is also relatively terrifying, though we scare easy.

Ports

Wii U's launching with a variety of ports from current Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games, such as Mass Effect 3 and Assassin's Creed 3. The vast majority of this holiday's big games are being ported (as well as some of last holiday's, like Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition). None of these are developed with the Wii U in mind, though some have additional content or new ways of interacting with existing content. If you're dead set on only playing Wii U games this holiday, then these might be your only way to check out some great games. That said, there's little benefit to playing them here over other consoles -- and if you're into multiplayer, there's an argument for existing consoles having more online players (based solely on install base).

Wrap-up

Nintendo promised consumers a modern HD gaming console, and the Wii U -- what's there of it thus far -- delivers on that promise. Games look gorgeous (HD Mario!), the risky controller is another successful control innovation and there's a ton of promise on the horizon. What's missing, sadly, is a huge part of the puzzle -- so huge, in fact, that it's impossible for us to pass judgment on the whole package just yet.

Without Nintendo Network, Miiverse, Nintendo TVii, or any streaming / on-demand video content -- not to mention promised backwards compatibility -- the Wii U doesn't compete at all with even last-gen consoles (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 just became last-gen, in case that isn't clear). But Nintendo launched a patch just four hours ahead of launch containing at least some of that functionality, so we're reserving judgment until we've spent time with its post-update features.

By Ben Gilbert posted Nov 18th 2012 12:00AM

Review

source http://www.engadget.com/wii-u-review/nintendo-wii-u-review/

Joseph Volpe contributed to this review.

Review: Nintendo's Wii U a potential dual threat

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:41:00 +0000

Nintendo's new-generation game system adds tablet-style controller

For Nintendo's next video-game console, the most important screen isn't that flat-panel TV in your living room. It's the one on your lap.

The Wii U, successor to Nintendo's blockbuster Wii console, presents several intriguing possibilities for interactive entertainment, thanks to a tablet-style controller, the GamePad.

The GamePad is highlighted by a 6.2-inch touchscreen, flanked by thumbsticks on each side, a camera on top and an assortment of buttons standard on most video-game controllers. Imagine stretching out a traditional controller and slapping a screen right in the middle.

At first glance, the GamePad looks bulky, but feels comfortable to handle for even the most complex video games.

Setting up the device is pretty straightforward. Nintendo wisely includes a HDMI cable with both the 8 GB and 32 GB models, and a walk-through makes it simple to prepare for play. Hopping among apps or games and the main menu is sluggish, though. The device itself is slightly bigger than the Wii, so it should fit into most entertainment hubs with little trouble.

Most of the Wii U's 30-plus launch titles leverage the GamePad in interesting ways. In the survival thriller ZombiU, players use their second screen to track inventory or hold it up toward the TV to scan an area. Madden NFL 13 allows players to call plays and change assignments on the fly by tapping or drawing on the touchscreen. In the mini-game collection Nintendo Land, players hold the controller vertically, flinging stars at ninjas by swiping fingers.

Most intriguing is how much gaming can be accomplished without the need for a television. The Wii U streams games onto the GamePad, so players can enjoy a handful of video games solely on the small screen, making it more portable than other home consoles. The GamePad's range makes it easy to move among rooms of a house while enjoying a game.

In the event that players prefer a larger screen, it's tough not to notice that Nintendo finally is entering the world of high-definition gaming. Titles such as New Super Mario Bros. U sparkle onscreen with rich, colorful graphics, and games normally found on rival consoles PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 hold their own on Wii U.

Nintendo also introduces a revamped online hub, Nintendo Network, which players navigate via GamePad. There's an eShop for purchasing games, a Web browser and social MiiVerse where players interact with their Mii avatar. Unfortunately, users must wait until next month for Nintendo TVii, which adds a sophisticated program guide, and apps such as Hulu, Amazon Instant Video and YouTube.

Whether the Wii U reaches the incredible heights of its predecessor remains to be seen. The Nintendo Wii had a clear target (casual players) and a game in Wii Sports that served as a shining example of motion-based gameplay that was easy to enjoy. The Wii U needs a similar kind of experience to sell players on a world with two screens.

Until we see Nintendo Network fully functioning with the TVii service and additional games that take advantage of the GamePad, it's hard to say whether Wii U recaptures the console magic.

Publisher: Nintendo

Price: $299.99 (8 GB) or $349.99 (32 GB)

Release Date: Nov. 18

Score: *** (out of four)

source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2012/11/18/nintendo-wii-u-review/1708943/

by Brett Molina, USA TODAY

Wii U Specs - Technical Specifications for the New Wii U Game Console

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:32:00 +0000

Wii U Specs - Technical Specifications for the New Wii U Game Console

On September 13, Nintendo released information about the Wii U specs (hardware specifications). In their press release, Nintendo states that the new system will have 2 GB of RAM. 1 GB of RAM will be used for games and 1 GB of RAM will be used for the console's operating system. To put that in perspective, both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 have just 512 MB of RAM.
There will be two versions of the Wii U game console, one with 8 GB of internal storage and a deluxe version with 32 GB of internal storage. The Wii U also offers capability for expanding storage using SD cards or external USB drives.
The CPU and GPU
The CPU of the new Wii is designed by IBM who has given the processor a codename of "Expresso." The CPU is described as a power architecture based, multicore processor. The GPU (graphics processing unit) is an AMD Radeon-based High Definition GPU. When it comes to disk storage, the games for the Wii U console will come on proprietary optical discs, capable of storing up to 25 GB of data. This is similar to what you would find on Blu-ray discs and the game console is able to easily support high-definition graphics in full 1080p HD.
Video and Audio Output
The Wii U console supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i video and is compatible with HDMI, S-Video, Stereo AV, Wii D-Terminal, Wii Component Video, and Wii AV cables. When it comes to audio, the console uses Six-channel PCM linear output through HDMI or analog output via the AV Multi Out connector.
Networking and Compatibility
The Wii U game console can connect to the Internet wirelessly and this unit also features four USB 2.0 connectors, there are two in the front and two in the rear. The new console is also compatible with nearly all of the games and accessories of the original Wii console so you will be able to play all of your older Wii games with the new Wii U game system.
Controllers
The new Wii U GamePad controller has analog sticks and button controls. The game console supports two GamePads, four remote controllers, and accessories like Nunchuks and Wii balance board. These accessories can be from the original Wii.
Features
There are some new features that the Wii U will introduce including Nintendo TVii, Miiverse, video chat and internet browsing.

Don't miss the Wii U specs on the new GamePad. Visit http://wiiuprice.net/wii-u-specs/

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We Are Failing to Improve Workplace Safety

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:48:00 +0000

We Are Failing to Improve Workplace Safety

We have to take a different approach to health and safety in the workplace because what we've been doing is not working. In spite of our best efforts, we have driven health and safety underground by the use of blame and an over-dependence on unreliable statistics.
Fragile Link Between Statistics and Safe Behavior "Safety statistics" are unreliable for a number of reasons. It is possible to work unsafely and not contribute to the statistics, which means that injury numbers and "near hit" figures are not the best indicator of workplace safety. Insurance claims may drop because the pressure is increased not to accept them but safety will not necessarily improve. Where there is reward or punishment for reporting, statistics will fall. For example, if a senior manager has an "at risk portion of salary," based on safety statistics, human nature takes over. A principle of human behavior states that, "Things which get rewarded or recognized--get done." This will lead to a reduction in statistics but safety will not improve.
On the other hand, if the culture of the organization is one where blame is common, then not only is the manager blamed but also the victim. This will also put a downward pressure on statistics.
Our concept of workplace safety Our whole concept of safety in the workplace is totally misguided. The results speak for themselves. We are using slogans like "zero harm," "zero accidents" and "zero injuries" with the pious hope that they will come true. These slogans are promoted by people who have no credibility in the workplace because they are so far removed from the reality of the life of a worker.
Look at it from a logical point of view. If you want to deliver a safety message then you have to identify the people who have the credibility to do so. The only arbiters of credibility are the people who are to receive the message. If they don't trust or believe the messenger, they will ignore the message. Unfortunately, the health and safety industry is full of non-practical people who lack credibility and can only try to achieve results by using accountability. This has created an environment of fear in the workplace because of a not very subtle culture of blame.
Regulatory bodies have determined that if you have risks in the workplace you will have harm. This means that the legislation is designed to remove risk. The problem is that totally removing risk is an impossible task. If it were possible, we would not have the alarming number of fatalities and injuries every week.
We have people writing rules, procedures and regulations who have never operated in the real world. When the experienced operators encounter these new rules, they understand clearly that they have been written by somebody who has no practical knowledge or experience. This immediately erodes any trust that may have existed.
The solution is frighteningly simple. Let the people at risk, design their own safe working practices. Harnessing this knowledge and experience will require a higher standard of leadership but the outcome will be much improved.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books. This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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How to Introduce a Successful Workplace Productivity Improvement Program

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:46:00 +0000

How to Introduce a Successful Workplace Productivity Improvement Program

Introducing a change like this requires quite a lot of serious thought. There is a perception that increased productivity is achieved at the expense of the workers. In some ways, productivity improvement has got a bad name because of the way previous programs have been introduced. Knowing this in advance is a great advantage. This means that you can preempt problems before they arise.
Introducing the program is probably the hardest part of the whole project, yet it is an essential part of the process. There is no point in plowing ahead without winning the hearts and minds of your staff. The program will only work when the staff support it. Without their support, it will fail dismally. This means that the first part of the productivity improvement program is to win the support of your staff.
One of the ways to introduce productivity improvement is to never use the words productivity improvement. I have found that introducing the concept as a way of working smarter not harder is normally accepted more easily. If you know who carries influence in your workplace, you can start off by having informal discussions with them about making the work easier. This means that when you come to talk to the whole group, you already have the people with the influence on your side.
Too often, productivity improvement programs have been installed as a prescription for work practices by autocratic management techniques. Predictably, these methods failed miserably. This has left an unpleasant legacy which has made it more difficult to introduce productivity improvements at a later date.
It helps if you are in the habit of holding briefing meetings with your staff on a regular basis. This is an excellent forum for introducing ways of working smarter once you have sown the seeds with the influential people. Regular meetings like this also enable you to introduce such things as what sort of feedback is appropriate and the frequency.
These sorts of regular meetings can be used for setting targets, milestones and methods of celebration when they are reached. There are many other benefits from holding regular meetings which include, better communication, less resistance to change, improve teamwork, more innovation, the free exchange of ideas and improved morale.
It also makes sense to use these meetings to remind staff of deadlines, quality issues, safety and external influences on the business such as competition.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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How to Improve Your Personal Productivity and Achieve More

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:46:00 +0000

How to Improve Your Personal Productivity and Achieve More

We have heard many people say, "There just aren't enough hours in the day." And we have probably said it ourselves. If you want to achieve more in any given time span, stop and take stock of what you're doing. The chances are that you suffer from interruptions, a lack of planning and jumbled priorities.
To achieve more, you need to eliminate or minimize interruptions. These are the things that steal your time and distract you from your objectives. Secondly, if you don't plan to be effective, you won't be. Your personal productivity will suffer without effective planning. Thirdly, unless you have clear priorities your days will be unproductive. The combination of these three factors will gobble up your time to the point where you will feel busy but achieve little.
When you take stock of your particular circumstances remind yourself of the 80/20 rule. This is the approximate rule that you can apply to improving your personal productivity. It's not exact because sometimes the ratios will be 60/40. Just remember that 80% of your time is spent with 20% of your customers. By the same token these 20% of your customers create 80% of your problems.
To put this into context, 80% of your profit comes from 20% of your customers. If you identify these customers, you can work towards developing more of a similar type that will increase your profit.
From a personal productivity point of view it is wise to remember that 20% of your effort produces 80% of your results. It makes sense to isolate that effort that produces those results and duplicate it.
You will waste 80% of your time through interruptions, a lack of planning and unclear priorities. The secret of achieving more in less time is to increase your productive time by reducing interruptions, better planning and setting clear priorities.
Make a list of your interruptions over the period of a week. Assemble them into columns, those that you create yourself and those that are created by other people. Interruptions to yourself can be dealt with relatively easily. This means not surfing the web when you should be focused on the task in hand.
You will improve your planning if you plan each day the evening before. Never write a "to do list" that contains more than five items. Put these items in priority of doing the worst one first. This means every time you complete a task, the next one will be more enjoyable. This little tactic will motivate you to achieve more.
To improve your personal productivity, you must stop and look at what you're doing. It's very hard to improve without this objective self-assessment.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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5 Tough Leadership Questions to Ask Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:45:00 +0000

5 Tough Leadership Questions to Ask Yourself

As I listen to managers and supervisors in many different countries and many different industries, I hear the same problem repeated frequently. "Why don't people listen and do what they are supposed to do?" To understand this situation we have to step back for a moment and ask ourselves some direct questions. If you have been guilty of asking why people don't listen to you and why people don't do what you ask them, I suggest, gently, that you ask yourself these five searching questions. You might find that they are difficult to answer. If that is the case, then ask somebody who works in the same environment to verify your answers.

Are you credible in the minds of the people you are trying to influence?
Do you speak their language?
Do you tell your staff what you want?
Do your staff trust you?
Do you use positive reinforcement when you get compliance?

Let's have a look at the first question. The only people who can answer are the people who you are trying to influence. What you think is largely irrelevant. However, without credibility, your message will never get through no matter how it is delivered.
The next question is pretty simple. Do you use jargon and corporate speak when you are trying to get a message to the people on the shop floor? So many managers and executives fall into this trap. They speak about things that are of no interest to the people on the shop floor. How many times do executives use the language of the board room when they are trying to get a message to the workers?
Telling people what to do just does not work. If you want a change in behavior it is vital to involve those people who need to change in the process. Prescribing change is one of the most common ways to fail. By asking opinions and giving the opportunity to contribute to the change is much more successful.
Trust is one of the ingredients of credibility. Without it, you cannot manage change successfully. In today's business environment, one of the most important jobs of the leader is to generate mutual trust and understanding. If you look at organizations that have failed to introduce the necessary changes to meet new demands of customers and the marketplace, you will find that trust is absent.
The final question should give a resounding "yes" answer. Achieving change can be difficult but maintaining it is even harder if you don't use this essential leadership tool. Positive reinforcement will ensure that changes in behavior continue until the new behavior becomes normal. For some reason, managers, supervisors and executives fail to use positive reinforcement when somebody does what they've been asking for. Use yourself as an example, if you do something differently and get recognized for it, won't you repeat it? In this respect, you are no different from your staff. So "catching people doing it right" is a powerful tool that cannot be ignored by anyone in a leadership position.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is udated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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How to Easily Increase Your Sales

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:44:00 +0000

How to Easily Increase Your Sales

At present, there are a lot of people in sales who are struggling to meet their sales budgets. One of the ways that you can increase your sales volume and your bottom line is to up-sell your customers and clients.
Up-selling means offering your customer more than they originally planned to purchase. For example, if you run a clothing store and a guy comes in to buy a pair of trousers, the upsell can be a new belt.
When the car salesperson asks if you would like a GPS system in your new car, that is an up-sell.
If you get your car serviced and you are offered a free brake check, that is a sort of upsell because it may lead to more mechanical work on your brakes.
There are quite a few reasons why so many people in sales don't use the concept of the up-sell.

The number one reason is that they have not been trained in the technique.
They don't have an upsell path or program
They don't know what to sell.
They think it is somehow being pushy or taking advantage of their customer.
They are nervous about up selling in case the customer takes offense and refuses.

Up-selling should be regarded as a service. What you're doing is you are helping your customer by adding pieces for them that go together.
If I go to the hairdresser and have a haircut and the barber offers me some shampoo, I don't feel as if I am being taken advantage of. If the barber recommends that shampoo because it will suit my hair, I am likely to include in my purchase. By recommending the shampoo it means that I don't have to go out and buy some. So in this respect the barber is doing me a service.
It's important to understand that up -sales are easy sales, because you've already overcome any sales resistance. Once the customer has decided to buy then you make your up-sell offer. Everything is in the timing.
Understanding how the up-sell works in the mind of the customer is important to the successful salesperson. If you notice in all the up-sell examples, the up-sell is a smaller cost than the main purchase. Very often, you can up-sell a number of products once the main buying decision has been made.
It works like this. Once you've committed to purchasing an item, the cost of the upsell is small and insignificant. If you are buying a car for many thousands of dollars, spending an extra few hundred seems like peanuts so you readily accept the up-sell.
If you do it correctly, your customer will appreciate the up-sell because they get more of what they want and you get an extra sale without having to find another customer. This means that the extra profit will go straight to your bottom line.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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The 5 Rules of Workplace Safety Management

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:43:00 +0000

The 5 Rules of Workplace Safety Management

There are certain rules of human behavior that must be taken into account when developing a process of safety management. If you violate these rules, you will fail in your objective to develop a safer workplace. The rules themselves are pretty simple, however, don't be deceived because they have a great influence on human behavior.
Repetition To get your message across it is necessary to use repetition. Repetition will ensure that your safety message is at the top of every employees' consciousness. Safety management is a process not an event. One of the ways to create this consciousness about safety is to hold five minute safety briefings at the beginning of each shift. This is very similar to a game plan which is discussed before a sports team takes the field. If you make the safety briefings relevant, interesting and valuable, you will find that staff members will contribute readily.
Consistency The concept of consistency applies to many situations and has a profound effect on human behavior. We trust people who are consistent, we believe their message, in turn we will tend to be more trustworthy and consistent. Consistency is demonstrated. For example, if, at a safety briefing you mention that there will be no blame should an accident occur, the statement has to be backed up by your behavior and the behavior of others in the event of an accident.
Involvement Involvement is the key to safety management. To gain control, you must give control. The people who are ideally situated to develop safe working practices are the people doing the job. This is in contrast to the normal prescriptive safety management process where somebody, somewhere creates rules and regulations without the experience of doing the job. Every single person on any work site should be able to contribute to safe working practices. If you avoid this basic principle, you will find that the imposed "safe working practices" will be ignored.
Positive reinforcement The number one tool in safety management is positive reinforcement. If you are serious about creating a safer workplace, make sure that you recognize safe behavior. Every day, go on a mission to find people who are working safely and tell them that you have noticed what they are doing. This is harder than it sounds. Try it and find out for yourself. But remember, the results are well worth the effort. Catch your people doing it safely and they will continue to do it safely.
Common sense It has been said that sense is not that common. This is relevant when considering workplace safety management. If the safety rules and regulations don't pass the common sense of the people at risk, they will not comply. That's why the involvement of the staff in safety management is so important.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/.

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Don't Forget These Basic Sales Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Don't Forget These Basic Sales Techniques

Everybody in business has to perform a selling function at one time or another. Often people tell me that they are not salespeople but don't realize that they sell ideas, concepts, change, improvements, methods of working or products and services. We all have to sell and the most important thing that we sell is ourselves.
Although appearance is very important in selling, it doesn't mean that you have to look like a movie star or a model. There is a certain standard that is acceptable. The first thing your customer sees is your company through your appearance. Any presentation that you give will be enhanced if you look presentable and professional. Your comfort is paramount and the standard should be as if you were going to a meeting with an important person or going for a job interview. Remember, initially, you are selling yourself.
Always shake hands firmly and smile. Successful sales professionals, dress well, smile frequently and are enthusiastic. It is a fundamental truth of selling, no matter what the product is, that nobody will buy it from a misery guts. If you can't be enthusiastic about your product and yourself, you will find it very hard to be successful.
When you are facing a customer, that person is subject to what is known as the primacy effect. They make their mind up about you in the first 10 seconds. If you are well presented, you have a better chance of being heard. On the other hand, if you are not dressed well then you will find that you will be rejected frequently.
Whilst this may seem very basic to a lot of experienced salespeople, it is extremely common for them to drop their standards over a period of time. For those people, this is a gentle reminder. If you present a friendly body posture, a genuine smile and a willingness to listen, you'll find that your sales will improve. You must never forget that the person you want to buy your products or services, your ideas or concepts, your changes or improvements, is often jaded by the numbers of people trying to do the same thing.
To stand out from the crowd is relatively easy. Make sure that during your initial meeting with your customer the ratio between your listening and speaking is 80:20. This means that you will be listening 80% of the time and only talking 20% of the time. This balance is very important because during your initial meeting with your prospective customer you are trying to gather information. This information is central to the way that you present your products or services or ideas and concepts.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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Are You Satisfied With Your Labor Productivity Levels?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Are You Satisfied With Your Labor Productivity Levels?

In any type of business, labor productivity rates are directly linked to profitability. Are your labor productivity rates good enough to generate high levels of profit? You shouldn't be satisfied with your current labor productivity because there is always some way to make things better and improve it. It's that little bit extra that makes the difference between a struggling business and one that is a resounding success.
It requires commitment as a business owner or manager to maximizing labor productivity in such a way that nobody is working harder. Working smarter is the answer but unfortunately there are many businesses that are failing to achieve even a reasonable level of labor productivity.
Decide how much profit you want to make. Calculate the levels of labor productivity to make that come true. Start looking at how you can lead your workforce to produce more by tapping into their knowledge and skill. To do this you need the right working environment and that is one of trust. If you were to ask your staff members for smarter and better ways of doing the jobs what would be the response?
You must do today what others won't, so you can achieve tomorrow what others can't. You are far better off thinking about how to create the right environment so that you can harness the collective knowledge, innovation and skill of the people you employ. One of the most intelligent ways to eclipse your competition is to improve your workplace labor productivity.
Whilst everybody is on the golf course complaining about the economy and the downturn in business, you could be planning to increase your labor productivity which in turn will boost your profits. There is no point in wishing things were better or imagining what it would be like in a thriving economy, you have to change what you're doing to win.
The more dissatisfied you are with the current situation, the more pain you are feeling, the more likely you are to do something different. Consider how you can introduce a way of measuring productivity that can be used to give feedback to the staff members. If you get stuck on this strategy, ask your staff how they could see it working, get ideas, establish a forum where these ideas can be discussed and installed.
The first stage of improving workplace productivity is to set up a system of feedback so that people know how they are getting along. The chances are in your workplace, your staff members don't get positive reinforcement in this fashion. A favorite question to ask each person on the shop floor is, "Are you having a good day today and how do you know?"
In a productive environment every single staff member, every supervisor, every manager and the business owner will be able to answer that question.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is udated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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The One Simple Rule of Business Success

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:41:00 +0000

The One Simple Rule of Business Success

Many of the solutions to the problems that you're facing in your business are probably right under your nose. If your business is not performing and your cash flow is tight, it is time to look at your priorities. Do you have them in the right order? Are you facing the truth about your financial situation?
There are plenty of simple steps that you can take to improve the financial health of your business. Small and medium-sized businesses always have way too many customers who have not paid their bills.
It's the most obvious way to get the cash flowing in to ease the pressure on your cash flow. But it is amazing how many business owners are reluctant to ask their customers to pay up. It seems that they appreciate how much it has cost to acquire that customer and don't want to do anything that may jeopardize the relationship.
The rule is simple, you provide products and services and they pay you for them. You cannot be in business and be successful if you don't collect the money owing to you. The money is the reason why you started your business, so when you go to collect an unpaid bill remember that. From a business point of view, you are failing if your customers are not paying you according to your terms of trade.
You don't measure success by how many staff members you have, you don't measure success by the dollars that your business turns over, you don't measure success by the size of your mortgage. There is only one measure of success in business and that is PROFIT.
No matter what your priority is, ignore it if it is not profit. Your number one priority in business is profit. In a small business, especially, cash flow is king. Every week you should carry out an estimated cash base profit and loss statement. This will tell you where you are financially so that you can adjust quickly and aggressively. If money is drying up or you foresee some future problems, be absolutely ruthless about cutting expenses as soon as possible.
If you have non-performing employees, get rid of them, if your expenses are too high, cut them. This area requires your scrutiny on a regular basis. If you take your eye off it, it will ruin your business. No matter what the economy is doing, the owner of a small or medium-sized business has to be aware of the financial position at all times.
You need to run the financial side of your business with an uncompromising level of fiscal discipline. Just remember this absolute truth. The dollar you didn't spend is the best dollar you ever earned.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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How to Keep Your Sales Skills at a High Level

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:40:00 +0000

How to Keep Your Sales Skills at a High Level

When you run a business you frequently find yourself in a selling situation. You may be selling an idea, a concept, a product or service. Often you may be in a position where you are trying to persuade a member of staff to do things differently. All these situations can be categorized as selling.
Over a period of time your selling skills become blunted and it is very easy to fall into bad habits. It pays to constantly check your performance to keep your skills at the highest level. As a business owner or manager you are constantly promoting your business to people you encounter socially as well has commercially.
Before going into a selling situation, it's good practice to remind yourself of a few basic points. You may even want to write down or make notes about some the questions that you wish to ask. You may want to remind yourself that the art of selling revolves around your ability to gather information about the other person's situation before you start explaining yours.
At the end of the conversation there are some questions which you can ask yourself to ensure that you are keeping on track. A good question to ask yourself is, "Did I control the conversation so that I was only speaking 20% of the time and the other person was speaking 80% of time?" If your objective is to gather information about the person's situation, you are not learning anything whilst you are talking. It's very easy to be so enthusiastic about your product or services that you dominate the conversation.
Another question to ask yourself is, "Did I get the information I was seeking by asking key questions?" It's quite easy to go away from the conversation with out some vital piece of information. To avoid this, make notes of the questions that you want to ask prior to the conversation.
During any conversation of this nature it will be necessary to get your own point across. The question to ask yourself is, "How did I know that I got my point across and it was understood?" Sometimes we make the assumption because we have said something, it has been fully understood. To avoid this potentially dangerous situation, you have to check that understanding has taken place by asking indirect questions.
By considering these three areas after your conversation, you will be able to ensure that you continue with your high level of sales skills indefinitely.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is udated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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You Must Make Mistakes to Be Successful in Business

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:39:00 +0000

You Must Make Mistakes to Be Successful in Business

You will often hear people say that making mistakes is good for the character and accelerates the learning. This is a load of rubbish. Making mistakes costs a lot of money and the last thing you need is unnecessary expense in your business.
The business gurus state that until you have made a whole raft of mistakes, you will not understand business. This is unadulterated garbage.
Do you learn from mistakes? Yes you do, but you also learn from avoiding them. I don't know about you, but I would sooner learn from avoiding a mistake than actually making it and it costing me a lot of money.
What you actually learn from your mistake is not to make it again. The problem is you learn what NOT TO DO instead of what you SHOULD DO. As a result your progress has been hindered rather than assisted. So your mistake has not advanced your learning or your business.
It's impossible to understand how making mistakes is good for you and your business.
Failure will not make you more successful.
Let's think about it differently. What is the most valuable experience you can have?
It seems to me that the most valuable experience you can have is to be successful. Every success that you have, directs your behavior to repeat it. There is clearly something in the old expression that, "Success breeds success."
Rather than making lots of mistakes, progress is fueled by success. It's just that this has been forgotten and overwhelmed by the whole concept that failure builds your character and is a necessary ingredient for learning.
Okay, so what does this mean to the person that is running their own business?

Firstly, ignore the conventional wisdom that you have to make mistakes to progress. Mistakes cost a lot of money and stall business progress.
Secondly, use your successes to direct your future behavior.
Thirdly, seek advice from practical experts in the specific area in which you need help.

Avoid mistakes in business like the plague. They stall your development and kill the momentum for growth.
Seek sound business advice from experts. If you are unsure about a financial decision, check it out with an accountant. When you have a legal problem, ask a lawyer. Normally, their fees are much less than the cost of a mistake.
Speak to a successful business veteran to bounce ideas off. It may cost you a lunch or a dinner but the experience will be well worth it. Don't trust your memory, make notes.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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An Intelligent Way to Guarantee Business Profits

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:38:00 +0000

An Intelligent Way to Guarantee Business Profits

Business owners often say that they have a financial plan. The chances are that it is either in their head or gathering dust in a file somewhere.
One of the secrets of running a business is to have a strong flexible plan for making profits. Running your business month to month, or week to week means that you will always be playing catch-up to fund expenses.
Typically, most companies have an optimistic guess or estimate sales and then figure out what the cost of achieving those sales are going to be. The dollars left over is called profit. It comes last. It's the bottom line. Effectively, it is last in the list of priorities.
This method which is very common, could be described as "residual budgeting." There are several fundamental flaws with this approach. The profits are vulnerable to changes in the marketplace that are outside the control of the business owner. Let's say there's a downturn in the economy and sales plummet.
Instead of making the necessary cuts as sales deteriorate, most business managers hope to make it up in the next quarter. This means that profit levels just evaporate.
An alternative approach would be to set a percentage profit rate. For example, if the profit rate was set at 15% and the budgeted sales were $2 million, the business operating profit would be $300,000. This would leave an expense budget of $1.7 million.
Running a business like this means that all expenses cannot exceed the expense budget of $1.7 million. The business has to run within its budget and expenses must be cut if they exceed the set levels.
By taking the profit first and making sure that 15 cents in every dollar of revenue goes to the business rather than operating expenses, the profit margin is preserved.
The message is simple. Set a clear profit target. Stick to the prescribed budget and hold everybody accountable for achieving that target. Take the first 15 cents of every dollar that comes into your business and pay salaries and other operating costs out of the remaining 85 cents.
Many business owners consider this method to be impractical. However, there are sufficient successful businesses practicing this method to prove them wrong. It's a question of leadership and financial management.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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Plug Your Business Profit Leaks

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Plug Your Business Profit Leaks

Over the years I have helped many small businesses to improve their profit. In most cases, my recommendations and suggestions are pretty obvious. However, the problems are not obvious before I carry out an analysis of the business.
The reason for this is simple. When you are running a business in which you have invested your time, money and passion, it is almost impossible to look at it dispassionately. Standing back and objectively looking at your business can make you thousands of dollars of extra profit.
When you are a consultant, it's relatively straightforward to analyze someone else's business because there isn't the emotional link that affects your judgment.
There are some things that you can do to identify opportunities for improvement in your own business without the aid and expense of an outside consultant.
First of all, it's necessary to understand that nearly every business has opportunities for growth and improved profits that have not been exploited. Frequently, the business owner is too busy to recognize these opportunities, even though, he or she could improve business profits.
Secondly, most businesses have a product, a division, a type of customer or a marketing method that is not producing sufficient profit. These activities are actually costing more than they are worth and should be cut. Often, the business has grown up with these activities and no one has ever questioned these profit leaks before.
If you analyze your own business by standing back and look objectively at all your activities you may find some unwarranted costs or some areas that require even closer scrutiny.
When you start looking at your business, it pays to remember the principle of 80/20.
You may find, as a result of your analysis, that 80% of your profits come from 20% of your business. You may also discover that 80% of your problems come from 20% of your business. Provided it's not the same 20%, you are in a good position to start instituting changes to plug up profit leaks.
When you carry out this sort of analysis, you have no alternative but to look at changes that will reduce unwarranted costs and take advantage of unfulfilled opportunities. In this respect, you then become your own consultant. A note of caution, this is not an easy exercise to divest yourself of the sentiment, the performance of the people and your own deep involvement with the creation of the business.
For those that find it possible, there are considerable benefits. Savvy business owners practice this analysis and carry it out every 6 to 9 months to make sure that new profit leaks have not occurred.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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How to Motivate Yourself to Start a Business

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 17:36:00 +0000

How to Motivate Yourself to Start a Business

The least expensive ingredient to start a business is the idea. Let's put it in perspective. We all know somebody who has had a brilliant idea for a product or service but done nothing about it.
Ideas are cheap and plentiful. If you think your idea is valuable, find out how much somebody would pay for it. Until you actually start doing something, it is just an idea. The people who succeed in business are the ones that do things.
Are you like the majority of people who don't do things and complain that there is just not enough time. Do you say you would love to write a book, take up painting, learn to play the piano, or learn to speak another language?
Do you spend your evenings in front of the TV, go to the movies, play golf or other sports and complain there are not enough hours in the day?
If you want to start a business, start it when you are doing your normal job. If necessary get up an hour earlier in the morning or go to bed an hour later in the evening. Use that time to work on your business from home. Give up your TV and pastimes and you will find you have many more hours a day to develop your business.
Once you do that and start devoting some time to your new business you will soon learn whether or not you have interest and excitement in what you're doing. Or you will discover that it's just a passing phase.
If it doesn't work out, you just keep on going to work at your day job and all you've lost is a bit of time. Starting a business is more about "want power" rather than "will power."
The ideal situation when you start a business is for it to have no debts. This means that you don't need to introduce outside capital and therefore investors into your business. You actually don't need an expensive infrastructure.
The majority of new businesses are service businesses, such as consultants, software companies, marketing companies, training companies, graphic designers and so on. If you are intending to start a business like that, avoid outside funding. The secret is to take on as little outside cash as possible.
As soon as you take on outside cash you give up control. When you are just starting a business, you have little or no leverage. And that is not the best environment to enter into a financial agreement.

Thank you for reading this article. Peter L Mitchell invites you to visit his web site where you will discover a wealth of resources such as free downloads, ideas, articles, information and books, This site is updated nearly every day. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

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